What is Organized Retail Crime?

Organized Retail Crime (ORC) is an organized effort by two or more persons to convert illegally obtained merchandise or cash into financial gain through theft or fraud. This usually involves the theft of multiple quantities of similar products or thefts from multiple stores, multiple jurisdictions or multiple states.

Organized retail theft is a "gateway crime that often leads us to major crime rings that use the illicit proceeds to fund other crimes-such as organized crime activities, health care fraud, money laundering, and potentially even terrorism." FBI Special Agent Eric Ives, Violent Crimes/Major Offenders Unit

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), retailers operate more than 3.5 million U.S. establishments that support one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.5 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy.

Law Enforcement / Private Sector Partnership

"The use of the task force approach to combating crime, coupled with successful partnerships within industry, is seen by the FBI as one of the most effective and efficient tools by which to identify, disrupt and dismantle any criminal enterprise. That strategy is working." - Dave Johnson, Section Chief, Criminal Investigation Division, FBI

A True Crime-Fighting Partnership

The mission of MT ORCA is to provide a forum to align Private Sector & Law Enforcement professionals throughout the state of Montana & jointly develop awareness to crime trends impacting our communities.